In the first of two friendlies at Coverciano, the Under-16s fought back to beat Austria 2-1. Shown in live streaming through the FIGC website, the result seemed to be going in the favour of the visitors, but the game was decided in the final minutes thanks to two penalties for Italy. Austria took the lead in the first half, but goals from Ciardi three minutes from normal time and Orlandi deep into stoppage-time turned the result on its head.

“There was only one team in it in the second half," said Azzurrini Coach, Daniele Zoratto. "In the first half we struggled against some good individual play; they were physically and athletically strong. Playing a high defensive line, their balls in behind caused us some issues."

"We'll give chances to the rest of the squad in Thursday's game. Today we tried a couple of new players, like Mancuso and also Camarda, who has been with the Under-15s. Both gave a really good showing. This is what we're looking to do: give opportunities to players to enlarge the pool so we can find and have more quality in the future."

The match. The first chance of the game fell to Fidjeu-Tazemeta, who after some good individual work on the break forced Vanucchi into a good save. The Azzurrini response was through Camardi who after 15 minutes tried to play in Olivieri but the Austrian defence was there to intervene. Italy continued to dominate proceedings, but on the break the visitors were a constant threat thanks to their pace and technical play.

The deadlock was broken after 25 minutes through Fidjeu-Tazemeta's perfectly placed free-kick 25 yards that flew over the wall into the bottom left corner giving Vannucchi no chance to give Scherb's side a deserved lead. During the half the away side looked to counter as fast as possible after winning the ball back, and after 39 minutes it was Adejenughure this time who called Vannucchi into action, who did well to stop from the forward from outside of his area.

Italy came out for the second half more concentrated and accurate and inside three minutes carved out a clear-cut chance, but the finish from substitute Maiorana rustled the netting but only from behind the goal. Seven minutes later, it was Camardi who came close, but his attempt to put the ball past an onrushing Fellner went agonisingly wider, after a good ball over the top from the back.

The Austrians struggled to find the rhythm and quality from the first half, and several changes for the Azzurrini found a new spark to turn the game into their favour, especially in the centre of the park. And just a few minutes from the end of normal time, Italy found parity with Maiorana winning a penalty that Ciardi put away, sending Fellner the wrong way to make it 1-1. And when it seemed like a draw was the likely outcome, the second decisive moment of the game completely changed the game around. With the fourth official signalling five minutes of injury-time, Orlandi was brought down by Fellner and from the spot the Empoli forward picked himself up to seal a 2-1 victory for the Azzurrini.

The second friendly between the two sides will be played on Thursday at 11, again at Coverciano.

Italia-Austria 2-1
ITALIA: Vannucchi, Colombo, Vezzosi, Garofalo, Cama, Olivieri (67' Mancuso), Gariani (29’ Di Nunzio), Perin, Ciardi, Mazzetti (46' Maiorana), Camarda (67' Orlandi). Unused Subs.: Nunziante, Cappelletti, Eyeh Khallouki, Maggiore, Arduini, Plicco. Coach: Zoratto
AUSTRIA: Fellner, Roka, Schony (46' Pfluger), Zabransky, Schandl, Riegel (73' Tesneli), Adejenughure (46' Suschitz), Silber (64' Dalpiaz), Spalt, Fidjeu-Tazemeta (64' Aleksa), Zangerl (73' Ilk). Unused Subs: Ivanschitz, Hangl, Gruber, Stohr, Freund, Kurz, Schillinger. Coach: Scherb
REFEREE: Gallorini. Assistants: Fiorucci and Fiordi. Fourth Official: Niccolai
GOALS: 25' Fidjeu-Tazemeta, 87' Ciardi, 90+1' Orlandi.
NOTES – Bookings: Garofalo, Vannucchi, Scahndl. Injury-time: 2’ and 5’.

 

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Alessandro Nunziante (Benevento), Tommaso Vannucchi (Fiorentina);
Defenders: Christian Garofalo (Napoli), Federico Colombo (Milan), Giorgio Vezzosi (Sassuolo), Cristian Cama (Roma), Mattia Cappelletti (Milan), Gianluca Maggiore (Atalanta), Siaka Khallouki Diallo (Juventus), Nickolas Ikenna Eyeh (Hellas Verona);
Midfielders: Giacomo Arduini (Roma), Alessandro Ciardi (Inter), Alessandro Di Nunzio (Roma), Niccolò Gariani (Atalanta), Matias Mancuso (Inter), Alessandro Olivieri (Empoli), Andrea Orlandi (Empoli), Ernesto Perin (Milan);
Forwards: Francesco Camarda (Milan), Stefano Maiorana (Fiorentina), Gabriele Mazzetti (Bologna), Elia Plicco (Parma).

Staff – Head Coach: Daniele Zoratto; Assistant Coach: Davide Cei; Fitness Coach: Luca Coppari; Goalkeeping Coach: Gianmatteo Mareggini; Match Analyst: Luca Romualdi; Doctors: Giorgio Liberati Petrucci and Emanuele Fabrizi; Physiotherapist: Alessandro Sferrella; Nutritionist: Vito Flavio Valletta: Secretary, Aldo Blessich.